Musical instrument



1,632,1 7 J 1927' R. B. RICHMOND 9 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 7 Filed Oct. 21. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 jwerzzfl 770g :5. 7/3'0/27770/16/ June 14,1927.

R. B. RICHMOND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 21. 1921 r s Sheets- Sheet '2 June 14,1927.

R. B. RICHMOND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Fi-l ed Oct. 21.. 1921 3. Shuts-Sheet 3 mq \h, 1% J@ MN" Hm (V 4 I B Q ab Patented June 14,

l,532,1ll7

PATENT OFFICE.

ROY B. RICHMGND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DEUSIGAL IINSTBUAIENT.

volume oftone, the conmositions 1 l be played without emphasis. Conseque ie compositions wlll beexpressionless anu mo notorious.

In order to overcome this objection me. u-- f cturers of the better grades of player pianos have provided for the production of expression through the instrumentality or additional perforations in the master record. 'lhese additional perforations control the volume oithe notes.

However, since the volume controlling perforations of a particular master record always bear a prearranged and fixed relation to the note controlling perforations thereof, the musical composition is invariably given the same emphasis. Thus there is no opportunity for variation and monotony results. Furthermore, the production oi the additional perforations in each and every matter record increases the expense, and emphasized or expressioned music rolls are usually sold at a considerably higher price than plain rolls.

One of the objects of this invention is to overcome the monotony or sameness of player piano productions.

Another object is to automatically give exprssion which bears no prearranged or fixed relation to the master recorc.

irnother object is to provide an attach mentfor a player piano which will auto 'matically emphasize any musical composition played thereon.

Another object is to automatically empha the compositionsproduced from plain rolls.

Anoth *1- object is to provide expression player piano productions without incu ring e expense'of specially prepared and relatively expensive rolls. I

the volume or intensityol the tone. Thus,

regardless of the master record and the will oi: the operator, the production is given ex pression w ich destroys the objectionable monotony so often experienced in the use of automatic players. I

rrn embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

.he iews in the drawings are as follows .lig. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation t a p ayer piano equipped for automatic tone modification.

2 is a diagrammatic transverse section thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the tone modifying or auxiliary controller. Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof.

5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig.

G is an enlarged elevation of the tone modifying valve mechanism.

Fl 3-. 7 is a plan thereof, partly in section. Fig. 8 1S section on the line 8-8 of ig. 6

. tape forming the auxiliary record and a diagrammatic representation of the tonemodification produced by a section thereof.

In general, the player piano has a keyboard, strings and sound-board of the usual type. The strings are struck by hammers which correspond to the various keys. The hammers are actuated automatically by individual air controlled motors 6, commonly called hammer pneumatics. The operations of these pneumaties are controlled in accordai'ice with the openings in a master record usually in the form of a perforated tape or strip of paper 7. The players feet operate treadles 8 which, by means of air exhaust bellows 9 and equalizer bellows l0, maintain a vacuum in two interconnected 141g. 9 is a plan of a portion of a poi-0 vacuum chambers or wind chests 13 and 14. Each of the hammer pneumatics 6 is connected separately with wind chest 14.

Perforated tape 7 passes over a trackerbar provided with openings. These openings in the tracker bar are adapted to be cover d by tape 7 except when the holes therein register with the corresponding tracker bar openings. lVhen the openings register, the individual hammer pneumatics are caused to operate the hammers to strike the corresponding strings.

In addition to the customary pneumatic player action for controlling the reproduction of the notes in accordance with the openings in the'master-record an automatic tone modifier is provided.

The tone modifier comprises, in general, an auxiliary controller 16. Controller 16 governs the operation of a pair of tone con-' trolling valves 17 and 18 in accordance with the openings in an auxiliary record, which ,may take the formof an endless perforated paper tape or strip 19. .Val've 17 controls a'pair of air controlled motors 20, called hammer rail pneumatics. Valve 18 regulates the passage. of air through a pipe 21 which connects wind chest 13with wind chest Hammer rail pneumatics control the striking-distance of hammers by respectively moving corresponding sections of a two sectioned or divided hammer rail 22 towards the strings. Suitable arrangements whereby pneumatics 20 mayinove the hammer rail sections are well known in the art. Valve 18 regulates the flow of air through pipe 21 and thereby controls the striking force of the hammer pneumatics which actuate the individual hammers.

"The tone controllingopenings in tape 19 are prearranged as to number and position in any desiredmanner, sov that, as the master and auxiliaiy records simultaneously control the action of the hammers, the tone of the notes produced is arbitrarily varied regardless of the will of the operator and the particular master-record being used.

The endless perforated tape or auxiliary record 19 is actuated by an air motor 23. Motor 23, may be the motor which ordinarily actuates the master-record and forms part of the usual automatic player piano action. The auxiliary tape feeding mechanism is operatively connected to motor 23 by means of a clutch 24 and an intermediate speed reducing transmission system. Clutch 24 is connected to and disconnected from air motor 23 by a control lever 25.

. The transmission system of the auxiliary controller comprises a unit having a pair of side plates 29, and is preferably secured to an end wall of the piano by any suitable means, such as clips 30. The transmission system has a rotatable shaft 31, on which clutch 24 is mounted. A sprocket wheel 32 mounted on shaft 31 actuntes a sprocket chain 33. Chain passes over a sprocket wheel 34. lVheel 3i actuates a pinion 35. Pinion 35 turns a gear wheel ilti. A spool 37 is operatively connected to and rotated by wheel 36. An auxiliary tracker bar 38 is positioned between spool 37 and an idler 39. Tape 19 is looped about spool :57 and idler 39 so as to pass over the face of auxiliary tracker bar 38. The driving force of motor 23 is thus transmitted through the speed reducing system to l'()ttlt0 S[)00l 37 and move tape 19 at a relatively slow speed over the auxiliary tracker bar.

Tracker bar 38 has a pair of openings 40 therein. Openings 40 are respectively connected by one of a pair of tubes 41 to a pair of tone controlling pneumatics 4-2 and 43. Pneumatics 42 and 43 are connected to wind chest 13 by a pair of tubes 4st.

Auxiliary record 19 is provided with a plurality of perforations 45, longitudinally aligned in two parallel groups, one neareach edge of the tape. The arrangement is such that the perforations of each group may register with a corresponding tracker bar opening 40 during one complete revolution of, tape 19. Tracker bar openings 40 are covered by the tape except when tape perforations 15 register therewith. lVhen the perforations in tape 19 register with their corresponding opening in tracker bar 38, the vacuum which normally holds tone controlling pneumatics 42 and 43 open is reduced, and the corresponding pneumatic collapses.

Tone controlling pneumatics -'l2 and 13 are each provided with an angle arm it Each angle arm 46 has a pawl 47 pivoted thereto. Pawls- 17 are adapted to move a plunger 48 in opposite directions. Normaly, or when pneumatics +12 and -13 are unrollapsed, pawls 47 rest upon corresponding tripper bars 4.). Plunger 48 is provided with. two similar groups of teeth 50, one group being on each side of its center. Upon the collapse of either of the pneumatics 42 or 43, the corresponding pawl 4 T, which is operated thereby, is pushed outwardly. This outward movement continues until pawl 47 clears its tripper bar -19, whereupon the pawl drops down and engages the nearest tooth 50 on plunger 48. The movement of the pawl continues, pushing the plunger with it, until the corresponding tone controlling pneumatic has completely collapsed. Each collapse of pneumatic 42 moves the plunger to the left a distance corresponding to one tooth, and each collapse of pneumatic =13 moves the plunger substantially the same distance in the reverse direction or to the right.

Tone controlling pneumatics 42 and -13) are biased toward their normal or uncollapsed condition by corresponding springs 51. These springs retain the pneumatics extended as long as openings in auxiliary tracker bar 38 are out of register with per forations in the auxiliary tape. Substarr tially U shaped loops provide guideways for plunger 48 and serve to keep the same in longitudinal alignment with valves 17 and 18.

Valves 17 and 18 are mounted on a rod which connected to plunger 48 by a union 54. Consequently the collapse of tone controlling pneumatics 42 or 43 moves valves 17 and 18in opposite directions. Union 54 secured at one end to a screw eye mounted on plunger 48 and at the other end is ad justably secured to rod 53 between two adjusting nuts 56. Valves 17 and 18 are clamped between adjusting nuts 57 which are threaded onto rod 53. The adjustn'ient and position of the valves may be varied by turning nuts56 and 57.

-An air-tight gate box 58 is inserted in air pipe 21. Valve 18 is mounted in the gate box so as to open and-close an air port 59 therein as the valve is actuated in opposite directions by the movement Io't' plunger 48. Port 59 connects pipe 21 with the bottom of gate box 58 so that valve 18 regulates the flow of air through pipe 21 from wind chest l3.t0 wind chest 14; The more port 59 is opened, the greater the vacuum in wind chest 14 and the more intense the stroke produced by hammerpneumatics 6. Since, in the illustrated embodiment, there are four teeth which are engageable by each pawl 47, port 59 may be opened or closed in four steps orstages; Consequently the tone modification produced by port 59 has, as a maximum, four steps in each. direction. That is, the tone can beso'ttened in four steps and strengthened in four steps.

Ports 60 and 61 are provided in an extensio1r62 of gate box 58. These ports are opened andclosed'by valve 17 in its movement back and forth. Ports ()0 and 61 are connected to tubes 65 and 66 by means of tubes 67 and 68,respectively. Tubes 65 and 66 connect a pair of expression buttons 69 and 70 with hammer railpneumatics 20 so that the operator may, if he desires, manuallycontrol the positions of the hammer rail sections. actuatesa rod 71. Rods 71 connect pneumatics 20 with the respective sections of the di .ed hammer rail 22 in such a way that the collapse of a pneumatic moves the corresponding hammer rail section toward the strings, while the expansion of either pneumatic moves the corresponding section away from the strings.

Ports 60 and 61 are each connected When port 60 is opened. by valve 17 the v natic 29 occurs when port 6 Pneumatics 20 in collapsing each pneumatic 20 connected thereto collapsed by the flow of air through tubes and thereby throwing the ot' the hammer rail a i ii=o-.e--

ment o1 a hammer rail section shortens the 5') striking distance of the han'uncrs therewith. The collapse or the oi;

to permit the escape of ii i V and 65. Since the St'l'ilil tint. hammers depends upon the posi divided hammer rail and the os the hammer rail sections are contro the collap e of pneum 3 99, men valve 17 controls the striuing tlistan hammers.

Valves 17 and 18 and the ports coi thereby are so related that when ptsubstantially closed ports 60 and (it open. lVhen port 59 partly opt cause of the movei'nent o1 plr... step to the right, port 60 is or next step of the plunger port opened, port t) remaining closed, 1.. 61 is not closed. On the next step poi is opened still more and port (it ch l On the final step port 59 is comp opened. The reverse movement of phi 48 produces the opposite eli'ects. {in 0: step port 59 is restricted and on the and fourth steps, respectively, ports 60 are opened.

In Figs. 6 and '7 valves 11' an shown in their extreme left hand position; with port 59 substantially closed ('30 and 61 open. In this pos valves the intensity of the ha is weakened on account of the in wind chest 14. The striking the hammers is shortened on pneumatics 20 being collapsed. sponding tone or degree oi ex duced when the valres are in shown is the lowest or what is accou (it .of;

of the stroke a d the striking dist the hammers are at a maximum since port 59 is unobstructed and both meumaticsQt) are uncollapsed. The corresponding tone or degree of expression produced the loudest or what is known in the art as torussinio ordinarily designated by the symbol FF. I

The three tones or degrees oi express on intermediate the pianissinio and the .tortissiino which are nesignated in the art bv the symbols P, hil and l? are prciduced in the previously described intern diate positions of valves 1'? and 18. Thus the degree of expression P occurs when plunger 48 is in the position wherein port 60 is closed and the degree F occurs-when both ports and 61 are closed.

These degrees of expression, which are automatically produced in accordance with the holesin the auxiliary record, can be slightly modified by the operator actuating the pedals faster or slower so as to cl'iange the vacuum in wind chests l3 and 14. The experienced operator is thereby enabled to produce an infinite number of degrees of expression differing from, or in effect super imposed upon, the predetermined degrees of ex ression produced by the auxiliary record.

alves 17 and 18 move step-by-step, either to the right or the left, so that the tones are increased or decreased by only one step at a time.

Since plunger 46 is-actuated by the-col lapse of pneumatics -12 and 43, which in turn are collapsed by tracker bar openings coming into register with perforations in the auxiliary record, the movement ot'the auxiliary record over its tracker bar controls the position of valves 17 and 18 and the resulting degrees of expression. Simultaneous collapse of Pneumatics 42 and i3 is prevented by spacing perforations e5 so that only one opening 40 is in register with a perforation at any one time.

Perforations along one edge of the tape collapse pneumatic 42 and thereby cause plunger 18 toactuate valves 17 and 18 to the left. The perforations along the opposite edge of the tape cause the collapse of pneumatic i3 and thereby cause the plunger and valves to move to the right.

A fragment of a typical expression curve 72 shown in Fig. 9 in connection with the arrangen'ient of perforations in the auxiliary record which Wlll produce the changes of expression. Tape 19 is represented as -moving to the left. Registry of any perforation 415 in the bottom row with an opening 10 in tracker bar 38 causes pneumatic 4-2 to collapse. The collapse of pneumatic 42 moves valves 17 and 18 one step to the left thereby instantaneously lowering the volume of tone or expression. Similarly registry of a perforation 45 in the top row causes pneumatic 41-3 to collapse. The collapse of pneumatic moves the valves to the right and raises the volume of tonel In the diagram the tone isindicated as starting at i where it remains until the first bottom perforation registers with its opening when the tone drops to PP where it remains until a top perforation registers with its opening when the tone returns to P. Three successive perforations along the top raise the tone through tMF and F to FF. Four successive bottom perforations lower the tone to PP through the intermediate steps and three successive perforations in the top row again raise the tone'to possible. Monotonous F. The longitudinal spacing between any two perforations determines the period of any one degree of expression and can be varied as desired.

Since the modifications of tone depend on the striking distance of the hammers and the wirilzing force of the hammer pneumatics, the auxiliary controller, by the operation of valves 17 and 18, independently regulates the tone of the notes produced through the regular player action and the master record.

it is unnecessary to synchronize the movements of the master and auxiliary records. The master record may be started without rd to its relation to the openings in the aux liary record; it is only necessary to insort or rewind the master record and start playing. Thus, sincethe tone controlling orwuings in the-auxiliary record neednot and usually will not bear the same relation to the note controlling openings in the master record upon repetitions of the same production, a great variation in-expression is playing is consequently prariically impossible.

Having described my invention what I rlaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with an automatic piano having strings, hammers for vibrating the strings and a master record for controlling the action of the hammers to produce a musical composition, of an auxillary record operated automatically and independently of themaster record to vary the length of the hammer strokes and thereby give expression to the composition.

2. An automatic stringed instrument having hammers for vibrating the strings and master-record mechanism for causing the hammers to vibrate the strings, of an auxiliary record for varying the length of the hammer strokes to regulate the volume, and an auxiliary controller automatically operating said auxiliary record entirely independently of the master record mechanism and controlling said auxiliary record.

3. In an automatic piano in which a master record mechanism controls the production of the notes, an'automatic auxiliary controller driven independently of any fixed relation to the master record, and volume modifying auxiliary record controlled by the auxiliary controller and actin independently of the master record mecianism.

4c; In a musical instrument in which a master record automatically controls the production of notes, means for controlling the volume of the notes, independently of note production, an auxiliary record for controlling said means, and automatic mechanism for driving the auxiliary record independently of any fixed relation to the master record.

5. The combination with a player piano,

having strings for producing the notes, hammers for striking the notes, and hammer operating mechanism controllable. by a master record, of an automatic tone controller comprising an auxliary record, means for driving the auxiliary record independently of any fixed relation to the master record, and means for varying the length of the hammer strokes in accordance With the auxiliary record.

6. In a musical instrument the combination of note producing elements, means for causing said elements to produce their correspondng notes, mechanism controllable by a master record for causing said means to influence said elements, tone modifying means acting independently of the note producing means for varying the volume of sound produced by said elements, an auxiliary record for controlling said tone moditying means, and driving means for actuating the auxiliary record independently of any fixed relation to the master record.

7. The combination with a player piano having strings, hammers for striking the strings and master control mechanism for controlling the operation of the hammers, said mechanism including a series of pneumatic devices controlled by perforations in a master-recordtape and means for carrying and moving the tape, of an independent auxiliary tone controller for varying the effect of the hammers upon the strings, said auxiliary controller including pneumatic devices controlled by an auxiliary record driven independently of any fixed relation to the master-record tape, and separate and independent means for moving the auxiliary record.

8. ln piano a master controller for governing the production of notes in accordance with perforations in a master record, an auxiliary record, independent means controlled y the auxiliary record for varying the volume of the notes produced through the action of the master record, and driving mechan sm for the auxiliary record, said mechanism moving the auxiliary record independently ot any fixed or predetermined relation to the master r cord.

9. A musical instrument comprising note producing mechanism, a master controller controlled by a master record for governing the note producing mechanism, volume governing mechanism for independently con trolling the volume of tone produced by the note producing iechanism, and an auxiliary physics independent of the master and arbitrarily and automatically influencing the volume governing mechanism independently of any fixed relation to the master record.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name.

ROY B. RICHMOND. 

